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Newest players drawn to Georgia for familiar reasons

Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008

By Chris Starrs

Of the five new faces on the Georgia women's basketball team roster, two players appear poised to make a quick contribution to the team, which begins its 2008-09 season at 5 p.m. today against Alabama State.

While both took different paths to Athens, it would seem Phillips, a transfer from LSU who sat out last season, and Mitchell, a highly regarded recruit from the Birmingham, Ala., area, came here for the same reason.

Family.

"My parents couldn't come to my games (at LSU) and they wanted me to come back home," said the 6-foot-2 Phillips. "My parents' first choice for me was UGA. My brother loves this school and he wanted me to sign here. I decided to go far away for a different atmosphere and a different vibe, but my parents wanted me to come back home, so I came home for my family."

Added the 6-1 Mitchell: "I was attracted to this team by coach (Andy) Landers, the coaching staff, the great tradition and all the accomplishments Georgia made.

"I didn't know where I was going, but when I came on my visit, spent time with the team and the coaching staff and had time to bond with everybody, they welcomed me like I was already part of the family, which ultimately made my decision. I liked the family environment."

In Phillips' one year of collegiate competition, she played in 38 games (starting eight), averaging about 13 minutes, 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds. In her recent Georgia debut in an exhibition game against Peach State Elite, Phillips paced the Lady Bulldogs' 69-63 win with 16 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in 28 minutes.

"I couldn't have done it without my teammates," said Phillips, who is expected to start against Alabama State. "(Sophomore guard Angela) Puelo and I were shooting two hours before the game, talking all about it. But my strongest areas are blocking shots and rebounding."

Landers said Phillips' physical ability is "exciting" and praised the newcomer for her practice prowess.

"She's our most athletic front-line player in a long time," said Landers. "You may have to go back to the mid-1990s to find as athletic a player. She's like a kid in a candy store at practice every day. It's almost like I'm watching somebody discovering herself and her own potential for the first time."

"What surprises me is her versatility," added junior point guard Ashley Houts. "She can be inside or outside. She can be a big guard or a small forward. She's got advantages at each different position. And she's a natural scorer."

The sister of Cincinnati Reds infielder Brandon Phillips admitted sitting out last season after transferring wasn't easy, but it has stoked her competitive fires.

"It was really hard," said Phillips, who prepped at DeKalb County's Redan High School. "I was so anxious to play. My teammates were keeping me focused on getting prepared to play for coach Landers and now I'm ready to go this year."

After averaging a triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) as a senior at Midfield High School, Mitchell will serve as the point guard understudy to Houts, although she's likely to see plenty of minutes this season.

"Any minutes Meredith gets will be significant because Ashley's not used to giving them up and doesn't like to give them up," said Landers. "I see her getting important minutes there and I see us as time goes on being able to play Ashley and her both at the same time."

As is generally the case with freshmen, Mitchell spends a portion of her practice time learning how to play with the Lady Bulldogs.

"The process is going OK," she said. "The coaches and the team are helping me get familiar with the plays. They're very understanding and patient.

"I'm the only freshman so they know I'm going to be running around and not really know what's going on sometimes. I'm just still trying to find my role and find my place on the team."